Wood is making a comeback as a source of fuel. The eco-confused may well ask: what about the chopping down of trees? What about the smoke and the carbon dioxide emissions? Happily, the experts at the Centre for Alternative Technology (CAT) have the answers: wood is a biomass fuel and, "when burned, these fuels release only the amount of carbon dioxide that they absorbed when growing. Wood from a sustainable source, where replanting matches harvesting, will not cause a net increase of CO? in the atmosphere, so won't contribute to climate change".

So, if you have a spare acre and boundless enthusiasm for wielding your axe, you could plant a coppice that will supply sufficient firewood for home heating. Much depends on how you manage that acre to ensure you get four tons of dried wood - and there are many experts to advise you (see Useful Resources, below).

Best for burning

Different woods have different calorific values (ie, contain more or less energy); dense timbers such as beech and oak are the best for burning and conifers the worst (you will need more to get the same amount of heat).

Piers Warren, author of British Native Trees -Their Past and Present Uses (Wildeye, £5.95), rates oak highly. Ash, he says, gives out plenty of heat and, along with willow, works best for coppicing. Cherry, apple, pear and pine are deliciously fragrant, although pine may spit. The worst choice is poplar, as it burns slowly and gives out little heat, which is why it is traditionally used for matches.

Felling tips

Fresh felled wood is up to 60 per cent water so it is very important to dry timber for a whole year before using.

Wood should be felled in winter when leaves have dropped: this reduces the amount of sap in the wood. Wood felled this winter can be burned next winter.

Logs burn best when split to an average thickness of 5in or less. Do this after felling as wood is much harder to split when dry.

Logpile lore

Find a light, dry spot for a logpile where firewood can be stored.

Logpiles should be off the ground to ensure good air flow. Pallets are the easiest way to achieve this. You also need a cover to keep off rain.

Bring wood inside a couple of weeks before burning to ensure it is house-dry.

As a tour of rural America or old Europe can attest, the stacking of logs by size and for overall sculptural effect is a domestic art form. Unleash your inner rustic.

Log piles attract hedgehogs, toads and the like, so dismantle with care.

Gardener's bonus: wood ash, unlike coal ash, is a good fertiliser.

Useful resources

CAT sells books such as Home Heating With Wood and runs courses on woodland management and home heating systems (01654 705950; www.cat.org.uk).